TAOISM | The Art of Doing without Doing

Have you ever reflected on the word ‘doing’? ‘Doing’ points to performance, achievement, effort. It also implies that there’s a ‘doer’ who engages in ‘doing something’, and that there’s a passive element or ‘the thing that’s being done’.

But does it work that way? Is there a separation between the thing that ‘does’ and the thing that’s ‘being done’? Or is the thing that does actually what’s being done and vice versa? Ancient Taoist writers might urge us to think about ‘doing’ (and ‘not doing’) a bit differently than we’re used to. At the root of Taoist philosophy lies the idea of an all-encompassing force called Tao, from which all elements of the universe derive.

The flow of existence is something we can live by or resist. If we follow the Tao, our lives will be easy. But if we try to resist, our lives will be difficult. When we’re mainly focused on striving and straining, because we’re convinced that only through ‘effort’ we’ll get where we need to be, we may be swimming against the stream.

So, what if ‘doing’ isn’t always necessary to get things done? What if many of our actions are a waste of time and energy? What if we can take shortcuts in life if we learn how to embark on the natural course?

This video explores the paradoxical art of doing without doing (Taoism), and how we can live life the smart way (TAOISM | The Art of Doing Without Doing).

Support the channel:
✔️ Bitcoin: 3HQnEz1LQ4G6dqN2LdZgzc7qoJjJCyWjTC
(Donated BTC and want in the credits? Send me an email with the amount/address)

Purchase my book (affiliate links):

Social media:

Merchandise:
🛍️ Merchandise design by Punksthetic Art:

🎵 Music used:
Silent Partner - Dinner For One
Jessie Gallagher - Spirit of Fire
Jessie Gallagher - The Sleeping Prophet

Creative Commons (attributions):

00:00 - Intro
02:18 - Are we doing or being done?
05:15 - Resisting the flow of nature
08:00 - Doing without doing

#TAOISM #TAO #LAOTZU

[Einzelgänger]

Which Taoist scripture do you enjoy the most: the Tao Te Ching, Zhuang Zi, or perhaps Lie Zi?

[DordeNecak]

"Thank you for watching", no, thank you Einzelgänger for delivering this message in this difficult time. Whenever I feel lost or become too stressed I just watch your videos and they calm me down and enable me to implement other perspective. So, sincerely thank you for help and guidance.

[jaxx-inspiregrowcreate]

One of my favourite quotes is - “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”
-Lao Tzu

[Dacademeca]

"Nature Does Not Hurry, Yet Everything Is Accomplished.
"
- Lao Tzu

[Dacademeca]

"When I Let Go Of What I Am, I Become What I Might Be."
- Lao Tzu

[QuietlyMagnetic]

Oftentimes many of us find ourselves wanting to be the 'adjective' without doing the 'verb'.

[masterbrainscience]

"Care about what others think of you and you will be their prisoner." - Lao Tzu

[alevsozer]

"Doing without doing requires trust. Trust that despite our inaction, change will happen, as change is nature's default. The more we seize to work against it, the more we allow the universe to take care of itself."
WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT NON-ACTION, NOTHING WILL BE LEFT UNDONE. Lao Tzu

[britoub]

Doing without doing: doing without the ego saying "I'm doing this". I don't think it's about not doing anything at all because things don't happen by magic. It's just about moving and doing things without thinking about it. Just flow.

[Dacademeca]

"Mastering Others Is Strength, Mastering Yourself Is True Power."
- Lao Tzu

[Vee-hrmg]

Nothing better than watching this under a moonlit sky. Your videos are helping me become a better person. HUGE THANK YOU! Love from the Philippines. Take care always. 🧘🏻

[Diana-gtrv]

“Doing without doing” - I really like this concept of Dao! This very good lecture brings it precisely to the point. We always try to control our lives, but I often think to myself that we have no own personal will anyway. Often things happen because they have to happen and we should just trust this process. Overthinking things is counter-productive. Relax and let the wonders of the universe play the game.

[FF-wxzp]

I am sufi muslim, I really like taoist philosophy its very much similar to sufism . Thank you for sharing such wisdom.

[kevintucker]

To me Taoism and the art of doing without doing is literally the beginning of understanding the man within myself, and it has nothing to do with laziness. Let that idea go.

[TheDhammaHub]

Such an interesting philosophy and so much like the concept of non-self in Buddhism. Some things result from observing the nature of things and people around us and are discovered again and again (sometimes independently)!

[nedakco]

I love your channel :) I've been alive for 17 years and your videos on Taoism are my favorite. I read the Tao Te Ching everyday during my workout and I've overcome my depression and most of my anxiety. Thank You <3

[ReynaSingh]

There is unity among all things. There is no individual doer🙏🕉

[Negentropy.]

I found that doing without doing...makes people jealous and angry with me

[joegoodguy]

Man, watching these videos on Taoism really makes me think I've been a Taoist all along lmao. I've always been a go with the flow kinda person, and a while back, I used to pursue relationships until one day I kinda let go, and realized I should just focus on improving myself, and it will work itself out. And recently a wonderful woman basically fell into my arms when I least expected it. The universe will take care of me, so I will continue to move at its tempo.

[TheLastTrump]

Everybody wants to save the world, but nobody wants to help mom with the dishes